Winner of the Grand Jury Prize Sundance 2013 and Un Certain Regard Cannes, Fruitvale Station, based on a true story, recounts the last 12 hours of the day in the life a young 22-year-old San Francisco Bay Area resident Oscar Grant.
Moments after New Year’s Day 2009, he was shot by a policeman at the Fruitvale train station after an altercation. The policeman, whose actions were captured on numerous mobile phone videos, claimed he mistook his gun for his taser; he eventually went to prison but the damage was done and Grant (father of a four-year-old girl) died the next morning.
His death led to local protests and a national discussion but the specifics of the life lost were largely ignored. An impressive debut feature by writer/director Ryan Coogler, who together with newcomer lead Michael B Jordan who takes on the role of Oscar with restraint and pathos, delivers a drama of emotional political weight.
In addition to the film’s skilful realisation of this devastating story it also presents a captivating slice-of-life of African-American man: quite possibly a 21st century Boyz in the Hood.